Published on 12, July, 2020
Hi everyone. I apologise for not coming here very often, but I would like to know if someone can share opinions on a problem I am currently experiencing.
I am in my fifties, I'm originally from Italy but I'm been living in Scotland. I've been working from home for several years because of my problem talking/relating to colleagues. I was diagnosed in my forties and I've never received any real help for my problems regarding socialising.
Since I spend a lot of time at home, I grew plants in my backyard and I feed birds as a hobby. I'm not a crazy bird-lady. I have a degree in veterinary medicine and I feed birds responsibly. All my neighbours have the typical yards with lawn that gets regularly mowed every two-three weeks and they think that my backyard is a disgrace. One of the family who lives next to me has a special hatred for the birds (there are a few pigeons, but the neighbours hate anything that flies and chirps). They reported me to the council a few times, but the council has never found anything wrong with what I'm doing. I tried the mediation service in the past but with no results.
Since April, the son (in his twenties) has begun working from home and he is determined to scare the birds away from my property, making noises when he hears them. He and his parents are also becoming progressively aggressive towards me, and they have started calling me names. I have reported them to the police twice and the police only recorded my complaint.
I live most of the time on my own and my neighbours know very well that I am isolated and shy.
If someone has been in a similar situation and has advices for me, I would like to hear them. Apologies for the long post.
I've just had to notify my housing association about neighbours because of intimidation, so I can relate. I don't have a garden that gets complained about though, the problem is myself from what I can tell. Weird bloke who doesn't talk much on his PC - must be up to no good. People who live alone and are different are judged harshly, a something to fear or make fun of - not nice, but some people aren't nice and we have to accept that. You aren't doing anything wrong so try not to let them get to you, but keep a note of things. Put up a sign saying I Love Wildlife, or something similar, that they will be able to see. Keep loving the birds/wildlife, I wish I had a garden to do the same.
My neighbours situation is more worrying, and I've had to face up to it.
turmoil said:sign saying I Love Wildlife,
that gave me an idea.
You will need that sign, and a microphone that is better than those in a mobile phone, I would think you do own one, right?
people post all kinds of tutorials on youtube these days,
You will start your own Youtube Channel ''I love Wild Birds''.
you will be making vidoes how to care for wild birds, and I am sure you will love talking about how to feed them,. how to tell them apart, and so on..
one new video every week at least, and you will soon have your own followers waiting for more, and maybe even youtube will pay you in a future
that will validate what your are doing in your backyard, you will be able to tell ''it's my job'',
I would make some kind of stand, e.g. tripod, where you can stand your phone after pressing record whenever you go to your backyard, later you will pick best moments and cut them out to create short vidceos for upload,. software that does only that is free.
better microphone in order to record sounds better, those in mobile phones distort everything farther then 1 yard, and every mobile has jack port.
Best what could happen is they would start calling you names when your phone is recording, I would think that as ''intelligent'' poeple as they present themselves would noticce that you have started doing it on regular basis, this way you will have proof in case it ever goes to court, niow it's only your word against theirs. for recording like that to be accepted as proof in ciourt, you need permission to record someone first. But since you were not recording them, recording was on to record birds, and they added themselves. your lawayer would find a way to use it as proof
Good luck
That's a very detailed plan! Unfortunately, I'm not sure I have the confidence to go around speaking in a microphone!
I found that the Polish name should be pliszka.
Oh no! I'm so sorry. I hope at least the poachers were arrested. I know many associations that use cameras to record crimes against wildlife, but probably they work in groups.
The pied wagtail is a little bird common in the countryside. It goes around wagging its tail, hence the name.
Youtube Wagtail
can you tell me what kind of bird is your avatar?
I know a guy, crazy vegan, ornitologist, and fierce animal rights protector.
He had a ''clever'' iidea many years ago to install hidden cameras in a forest where he knew poachers usually camp, except they walked upon him when he was doing it, and 5 of them turned him into a pulp,, he spent 10 months in a hospital, He still is crazy vegan, ornitologist, and fierce animal rights protector, but 50 year old man won't be stalking poachers anymore :P
I wish! They fly away if I get too close!